The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Tanzania has shifted its country’s headquarters to the Kijitonyama area from Nyerere Road, where it has been operating over the last one and half decade, as part of bringing its banking services closer to its existing and prospective clients.

Speaking during an official tour of the bank’s delegation at the Guardian Limited premises, Mikocheni Area in Dar es Salaam, the bank’s managing director Gbenga Makinde attributes continued expansion to Tanzania next year.

Gbenga said was impressed by The Guardian Limited tour as he witnessed the operations and newspaper production of the largest media house in Tanzania.

“We have shifted to Kijitonyama, an area which is the center of business activities and it is easily reachable for Tanzanians who are currently banking or would like to come and bank with us,” he said.

He said over the last fifteen years, UBA Tanzania is one of only two banks, that have participated in financing the Julius Nyerere Hydro Electric Power Project (JNHEPP), one of the country’s strategic development projects.

The 15 years’ journey in Tanzania is part of 75 years’ journey for Nigerian headquartered United Bank for Africa Plc to continue operating in more than 23 countries across the world, including 20 in the African continent.

As part of expanding its operations in Tanzania, Gbenga said the bank is expected to launch two branches in Zanzibar and Mbeya to reach more Tanzanians and promote financial inclusion.

“We want to be closer to many Tanzanians because we are the Pan-African bank serving, whose mission is to empower Africans and Tanzanians in particular,” he said.

Gbenga said UBA has been the leading bank in providing digital financial services across Africa, through LEO, the bank chatbot.

“The Chatbanking services have existed for more than seven years and enable our clients not only to access their account information but also to make payments including utility bills through WhatsApp,” he said.

Apart from AI enabled services, UBA is also offering a number of Automated Teller Machines (ATM) in five regions across the country such as Mwanza, Dodoma, Pwani (Rufiji), Arusha and Dar es Salaam.

Gbenga also noted that the bank has a number of banking agencies, which are offering banking services closer to people through cash withdrawal, and deposit.

“Our ambition is grounded in the strength of our People – their high engagement, personal integrity, sense of responsibility and commitment to positive customer experience,” he said.

He said the bank has over the last ten years implemented various community projects including Green Africa, which involves tree planting programmes in schools, as part of participating in climate action.

Another project is Read Africa, whereby the UBA Plc is distributing text books in different schools to help improve the learning environment for African children.